Method of packing fruit



Aug- 22, 1933- s. H. sHELLER 1,924,053

METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT Filed Sept. 16. 1929 2 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 PATENT lOFFICE METHOD or PACKING FRUIT Samuel H. Sheller, Marion, Pa., assignor of one-half to George R. Hamlin, Washington,

Application September 16, 1929 Serial No. 392,884

18 Claims. (Cl. 226-17,

Prior to my invention, the method commonly employed for packing peaches, apples or other fruit in baskets or containers, has been to use a facing former tosupport the paper liner for the basket or container, the liner having rst been inserted in va metal tub or shell and placed in an inverted position on said facing former. After filling the liner with the fruit, the metal tub or shell has been removed, following which step, the fruit basket or container has been placed in inverted arrangement over the filled paper liner, following which the basket or container, liner, fruit, and facing former have been turned right side up, a special reversible clamp being employed for that purpose, vThe facing former has next been removed and the usuall cap or cover for the basket or container has been fastened to the basket or container.

The object of the present invention is to greatly simplify and shorten the packing operation by employing the fruit basket or container cover itself as the facing former after rst equipping said cover or top with a novel internal cap having a flange which cooperates with the paper liner in a'n improved manner to protect the fruit from being bruised.

According to my improved method, the ordinary facing former which constitutes no part of the packed basket or container, is entirely omitted in the packing operation. The utilization of the basket or container cover or cap as the facing former, enables the fruit basket or container, when telescoped over the liner which has previously been filled with fruit, to be directly con nected to the cover or top so that when the basket or container is reversed or set right side up, it constitutes a packed, completely finished, basket or container.

The protective cap which is inserted in the inverted cover or top before the packing operation begins, has thespecial advantage of preventing that part or layer of the fruit which is i'st packed within the inverted cover or top from contacting with the cover or the basket or container so that the fruit will not be bruised. The flange or turned part of the cap overlaps the paper liner and any possibility of bruising is thus prevented. l

The protective cap is set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 485,240, led September 29, 1930.

In carrying vout the method, the basket or container cover or top, containing the improved paper cap, is first inverted and the first layer of fruit-is laid thereon, preferably in more or less symmetrical fashion as this layer becomes the top layer when the basket or container is standing upright. The flange or side wall of the paper cap rises to a considerable height in relation to the height of this layer of fruit so that the latter will be protected against bruising.

The paper liner is either rst inserted in an open-ended metal tub according to present practice, or is placed upon the inverted cover and the metal tub telescoped over it so that in either event, the liner surmounts the inverted basket or container cover.

The liner is then packed with the fruit and when packing has been completed, the metal tub is removed.

The next step is to telescope the inverted fruit basket or container over the packed liner, and the following step is` to bend the wire loops or handles on the .basket or container and force them over the ends of the slat on the basket or container cover to securely fasten the cover to the basket or container. This step, by drawing the cover and basket or container tightly together, causes the ange or side wall of the paper cap contained Within the cover to telescope within the paper liner so that a sealed joint is provided which prevents the layerl of fruit in the cover from contacting with the basket or container or the cover.

The final step is to turn the packed basket, or container with its attached cover, right side up.

The cap which is placed inside of the basket or container cover, may be of any suitable material, instances being corrugated paper board, compressed paper fiber, or the like, with or Without grooves, pockets, or holders for the fruit.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the method up to the point Where the inverted cover and its internal cap has had placed therein the first layer of fruit and the metal tub and paper liner have been placed on top of the cover;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the liner having been packed full of fruit, the metal tub removed, the inverted fruit basket or container telescoped over the liner, and the Wire handles or loops fastened to the projecting ends of the slat on the cover, compressing the cover and causing the flange of the cap to telescope inside of the liner';

Fig. 3 is a partly elevational, partly sectional view showing the packed basket or container turned right side up;

Fig. 4 is a detail Section illustrating the relationship of the basket or container cover, cap, 110

y tub and liner when in the position shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is' a similar view showing these parts .when in the position shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is adetail plan view of a part of the cap, illustrating how symmetrical circles or rows of fruit may be packed thereon; and i Fig. '7 is a detail View of the guide or abutment used in Fig. 6.

In carrying out my improved method of packing fruit, the first step is to place in inverted position on a suitable table or support, an ordinary fruit basket or container topor cover 1 having. one of its slats provided with the usual projections or extensions 2.

-By preference, I provide an improved protective cap 3 inside of the top 1, said cap having a peripheral wall or ange 4 which is of greater height than the rim or band 5 of the cover 1. This cap 3 may be of corrugated paper board or compressed paper-ber and, if desired, it may have pockets or grooves to hold the rst layer 6 of fruit. As shown, the cap 3 has no pockets or grooves. The cap 3 differs from ordinary paper caps, in that the side wall or flange 4 is higher than the band 5 and is adapted to enter the paper liner '7 commonly used, thus providing in the packed basket or container shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 5, a complete seal all the way around the iirst layer 6 of fruit, Where the wa114 and the liner 7 overlap at the point 8. This seal prevents bruising of the rst layer 6 of fruit.

The remaining layers of fruit are shown at 9. The cap 3 is set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 485,240, ledSeptember 29, 1930.

In order that the first layer of fruit may have an attractive and symmetrical appearance, this layer may be laid by using the guide or abutment 10 shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said guide having pins or prongs 1l by which it may be lightly engaged with the cap 3 to serve as a starting abutment for the concentric rows of fruit 6, said rows beginning with the outermost row as shown by full lines and continuing by laying successive inner rows. The abutment 10 is moved radially toward the center of the cap 3 during this operation.

Having laid the rst layer 6, the usual paper liner '7 and the metal tub 12 are placed upon the cover 1.

'Ihe successive, superposed layers 9 of fruit are then laid until the liner is filled.

The tub 12 is now removed.

The usual fruit basket or container 13 is next telescoped over the filled liner 7 in inverted position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The next step is to bend or fasten the usual wire loops or handles 14 on the basket or container 13 over the projecting ends 2 of the slat on the cover lfprovided for that purpose. This action results in exerting pressure or compression on the cover 1 so that the wall or flange 4 of the cap 3 is forced inside of the liner '7, effecting an overlapping of these parts as shown at 8 in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The seal thus provided prevents the lower layer of fruit from pressing against the band 5 or the basket'or container rim.

The nal step is to turn the basket or container from the inverted position shown in Fig. 2 to the upright position shown in Fig. 3, the basket or container then setting on its bottom 15.

What I claim is:

1. The method of packing fruit consisting in using a fruit container top or cover as a facing former-for the fruit to be packed, packing the fruit in superposed relationship thereto, applying the container to the packed fruit, and fastening the cover on the container which houses the fruit. i

2. Thel method of packing fruit consisting in using a fruit container top or cover as a facing former for the fruit to be packed, superposing a container liner on said cover, packing the fruit within the said liner, telescoping the 4container over the packed liner, and fastening the cover on the container.

3. The method of packing fruit consisting in using a fruit container top or cover as a facing former for the fruit to -loe packed. packing an initial layer of the fruit on the container top or cover, thereafter superposing a container liner on said cover, packing the fruit within the said liner in superposed layers above the initial layer aforesaid, telescoping the container over the packed liner, and fastening the cover on the container. f.

4. The method of packing fruit consisting in using as a facing former for the fruit to be packed, a fruit container top or cover having an internal protective cap provided with aperipheral flange or side wall higher than the rim of said cover, packing the fruit on said cap with the lower layer thereof vcircumscribed by the ange or side wall, applying the container to the packed fruit, and fastening the cover on the container to cause the flange or side of the cap to over. lap the inside of the container and prevent the fruit from contacting with the cover or container.

5. The method of packing fruit consisting in using as a facing former 4for the fruit to be packed, a fruit container top or cover having an internal protective cap provided with a peripheral flange or side wall higher than the rim of said cover, packing an initial layer of the fruit on said cap within the space surrounded by the ange or side wall, applying a liner on top ofv said cover,l packing the liner with fruit, applying the container to the liner in encompassing relationship thereto, and fastening the cover on the container to cause the flange or side wall of the cap to overlap the liner and prevent the fruit from contacting with the cover or container.

6. The method of packing the initial or facing layer of fruit in a packing operation for a fruit container, consisting in building an outer part of the layer of fruit against a movable abutment as a starting point, then moving said abutment to a new position and building one or more successive inner layers of fruit when again using said abutment as a starting point.

'7. 'Ihe method of packing fruit in containers which consists in placing a facer pad within the flange of the inverted lid, iilling said pad With a layer of fruit, setting a liner on said lid ange, filling said liner with fruit, lowering the inverted container over said liner, and securing said container and lid together. i

8. The method of packing fruit in container which consists in preliminarily placing a "facing" layer of fruit in a lid or top which is to be subsequently used as a cover for a container holding the main body of the fruit by starting the building of the facing layer against a movable abutment, removing the abutment, and thereafter assembling the faced lid or top with the containe for the main body of fruit.

9. The method of packing the initial or facing 1 layer of fruit in a packing operation for a fruit container, consisting in building a part of the layer against a movable abutment as a starting point, then moving said abutment to a new position and building one or more additional parts of the facing layer of fruit when again using said abutment as a starting point.

10. The method of packing'fruit in a container, consisting in initially using the container cover or lid as an inverted facing former for the fruit to be packed in said lid and container, and in lining the joint between the container and its cover or lid to protect the packed fruit.

11. The method of packing fruit in containers, which consists in providing on the inverted lid or cover of the container a "facing layer of fruit, superposing on said facing layer a body of fruit which is to constitute the packed contents of the container, andy telescoping the container over said body of fruit to enclose it and to apply the lid to the container. f

12. The method of packing fruit in containers, which consists in applying a protective liner'within the flange of the inverted lid or cover of the lcontainer, providing on said inverted lid a facing layer of fruit, superposing on said facing layer a body of fruit which is to constitute the packed contents of the container, telescoping the container over said body of fruit while the faced lid and the superposed body of fruit are in inverted position, applying the lid to the container, and turning the completely packed and lidded container into upright position with the lid uppermost.

13. The method of packing fruit in containers, consisting in providing on the inverted lid or cover of the container an inverted body of fruit which is toconstitute the packed contents of the container `when the packing operation has been completed, then telescoping the container over cover to the container.

14. The method of packing fruit in containers, consisting in applying a protective liner to the inverted lid or cover of the containei, providing on said lid or cover a facing layer of fruit, then providing on said facing layer of fruit abody of fruit which is to constitute the packed contents of the container when the packing operation has been completed, next telescoping the container over said body of fruit, then securing the container and lid or cover together and, iinally, turning the completely packed container with its secured lid or cover into upright position with the lid or cover uppermost.

15. The method of packing fruit inlcontainers, which consists in assembling a liner with the lid, cover or top of said container and while the lid, cover or top and the liner are in assembled relationship in inverted position, lling said liner with fruit, the inverted lid, cover or top then serving as a base for the body of fruit contained within the liner, telescoping an inverted container over the filled liner, and combining the container with the lid, cover or top. Y

16. The method of packing fruit, which consists in preliminarily placing a facing layer of fruit in a lid or top which is to be subsequently used as a cover for a container holding the main body of the fruit, and thereafter assembling the faced lid or top with the container for the main body of fruit.

17. The method of packing fruit in a container, consisting in using the fruit container top or cover as a facing former for the fruit to be packed, and in packing the fruit in superposed relationship thereto. f

18. 'I'he method of packing fruit, consisting in using the fruit container top or cover as a facing former for the fruit to be packed, packing the fruit in superposed relationship thereto, and fastening the cover on the container which houses the fruit.

SAMUEL H. SHELLER.

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